Vehicle-top and cover.



VEHECLE TOP AND QUVEW,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. 1915.

HARRY 1L. SHEPIQER, OJF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLYS-OVJEJRIIAND COM- PATTY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. T ll, TOTO.

Application filed April 10, 1915. Serial No. 20,401.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that T, HARRY L. SHEr-LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at T- ledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have invented new and useful Vehicle-Tops and Covers, of which .the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coverings for tops.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved top construction, comprising a frame work made up of a plurality of bows suitably connected, and a removable top covering to be completely fabri cated and then slipped or sprung into place over the extended framework and quickly and rapidly attached thereto.

15 urther objects, and objects relating to economies of manufacture and details of construction, will'definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects ofmy invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. 7 4

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which":

Figure 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away of an embodiment of the invention as adapted to a motor vehicle top or roof;

1F ig. 2 is a rear. elevation of the top of Fig. 1, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a'perspective view of the slip cover for the top. a

The motor vehicle 1 may be provided with the rear seat 2 having the seat back 3. Adjacent the rear seat may be mounted the bow of the top frame; Carried by this bow 4 are the rearwardly extending bow 5 and forwardly extending links 6. The links 6 carry the intermediate bow 7 and the forward bow 8. Parallel flexible intermediate tension strips 9 are firmly fast to the'terminal bows 5 and 8 and also tacked to the intermediate bows. Disposed over the bends of the. bows of the frame are the weather-proof strips 10 ltd tacked to the terminal and intermediate bows. Disposed over these weather proof strips 10 are the lateral tension strips 11 extending, as do the intermediate tension strips 9 between terminal bows 5, 8, and tacked to the intermediate bows of the'frame. Rearwardly extending from the forward how 8 are the converging tension strips 12. These strips determine the spacing of the bows and give the frame a continuous general form.

To further assist in positioning the frame. tension strips 13 converge in their rearward extent from the terminal bow 5 to engagement with the seat back 3 of the vehicle 1. These tension strips are each tacked to the intermediate 'wood portion of the boWs against lateral or longitudinal movement as to the bow at the point of engagement.

The roof or slip cover proper comprises the top section 1% having the lateral drops the slip cover 14: has the inwardly formed flange or lip portion 17.

This water-proof cover is fully formed and brought to the frame structure to be snugly placed under tension when drawn thereover, there being interengagementbetween the flange 17 and the forward bow 8 for firmly holding the front end of the top in position while the rearward bow 5 is thrust up into the inwardly extending flange adjacent the connection of the drop curtain 16 to the top section 14 of the cover. .This interlocking between the bows 5 and 8 snugly distends the cover over the bows while the tension strips hold the cover to form between the bows. There is accordingly produced a shapely top of light weight effective as a weather protectorfi The rearward drop curtain 16 may be removably attached to the seat back 3 by fasteners 18.

The device has great utility in that the slip cover may be fully made by sewing and quickly and neatly attached to the frame for the top independently of the tension strips. so that the frame may be fully made up and its adjustments effected and the covers brought to the top and placed thereon with a minimum consumption of timein the assembling of structures taking as much floor space as vehicles. This means that the tops may be fully made upjin quantity as to the Y chored to the frame as by attaching to the terminal bows.

\Vhen it is desired to change the cover or remove the cover for cleaning, or other attention, this may be readily done Without special work with the frame proper. The flanges 15 which may carry side curtains may have detachable fastening connection to the bows serving also to mount the side curtains.

.lVhat is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

L'In a vehicle top, the combination of a framework comprising a plurality of bows and tension strips connecting said bows; a removable top covering having fabric strips secured to the edges thereof, and forming inwardly directed marginal flanges, adapted to engage the edges of the top fran'iework,

and means for removably securing said top covering in place on said framework.

2. In avehicle top, the combination of a top framework comprising a plurality of bows,- and tension strips connecting said bows; a removable top covering provided with inwardly directed marginal flanges at front and rear, adapted to engage the front and rear bows of said framework whereby said covering may be sprung over said framework and distended thereon; and means for removably securing said covering in place on said framework.

In testimony whereof I aifiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

v HARRY L. SHEPLER.

lVitnesses HARRY H. GOODALL, GEO. E. KIRK. 

